Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson forever changed the face of American history on Opening Day 1947, as he became one of the most influential athletes to break the color barrier in professional sports, and in several ways, the color barrier in America. Born into a poor black family in the South, Robinson had to deal with a racist nation growing up. Robinson also dealt with this racism throughout his Hall of Fame career. Changed perhaps by all the hardships that he had faced during his childhood and baseball career, Jackie became an advocate for racial indifference. After his career had ended, Robinson used his popularity and fame to become involved in government, business deals, and with civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X. He strived to help under privilege black children, and help them stay off the streets and plan for success in their future. " I never had it made, but I had to try," quoted Robinson, (Robinson, 16).Jack "Jackie" Roosevelt Robinson was born January 31, 1919 to Jerry and Mallie Robinson. Jerry was a very poor sharecropper, and brought in enough money to feed his five children. Mallie worked as a house keeper to a very wealthy plantation owner. Jerry, tired of being poor, started to have an aff
On January 7, 1957, Jackie Robinson quietly walked into the Ebbets Field locker room, gathered his things, and said goodbye to the game that was his life. "It's like having to starting all over, like the past never existed," replied Robinson as he left the locker room, (Allen , 124). Nevertheless, Jackie didn't take long to get started again. Along with being an active member of the NAACP, he became involved in the establishment and development of several YMCA's (Young Men's Christians Association), throughout some under privilege black neighborhoods in New York City. He felt that if he could give these young men a chance to learn and participate in sports, maybe they could have chance to live a successful life, (211). He also established a fund in New York City that would annually collect money and toys, so that poor black families could have toys to give to their kids during the Christmas holiday. On April 15, 1947, the Brooklyn Dodgers started Jackie Robinson at second base, making him the first African American ever to play professional baseball. Over night, Jackie became a national figure, unfortunately most of this fame was due to the color of his skin. Some whites were outraged, others were glad, and African Americans hoped for his success. He started receiving hundreds of letters of hate mail, yet Robinson pretended like it did not exist. Instead, he went out day after day trying to quiet his critics with his blazing speed, and hard nose play. In 1947 won the first ever Rookie of the Year Award. At the end of his rookie season, he was one of the most respected men of any color in America. In fact, in a national pole, he was ranked ahead of President Truman, General Eisenhower, General MacArthur, Bob Hope, and Bing Crosby, ( Rampersad, 180). out of the ballpark," ( 191). Then in 1949, he won the Most Valuable Player Award. Support
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Approximate Word count = 1259
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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